Many Mansions?

Does John 14 speak of a visible return of Christ?

 

I recently had a conversation with someone who suggested John 14:1-3 speaks of some yet-future visible coming/return of Christ, but does it?

 

 

John 14:1-3

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Consider:  Hebrews 3:6 

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

 

Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas said unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 

Now let's break this down a bit...............

 

Verse 19 Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also.

 

Do you notice where Christ said the world would never see him again, but that his disciples would?

 

Verse 20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

 

Read that again, slowly.

 

Where did Christ say he would be?

 

IN THEM.

 

Verse 21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

 

Christ says he would manifest (make himself known) himself to the one(s) who love him.................right?

 

Verse 22 Judas said unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?

 

Did you notice Judas asked how Christ would manifest (make himself known) to them, but not the world?

 

Verse 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 

Did Christ say anything about a physical and/or visible appearance? No.

 

Did Christ say anything about riding on a cloud? No.

 

Did Christ say anything about riding on a horse? No.

 

Did Christ say anything about coming with an army of angelic warriors? No.

 

Did Christ say anything about an earthly fireball? No.

 

Did Christ say anything about a biological resurrection? No

 

Did Christ say anything about a war (Battle of Armageddon, or Gog & Magog)? No

 

He said they he would come and make his ABODE with those that love him, right? Yes.

 

I emphasize "ABODE" for a very specific reason.

 

This word is translated from a Greek word

 

3438 μονή mone mon-ay’

 

Defined as

 

AV-mansion 1, abode 1

 

1) a staying, abiding, dwelling, abode
2) to make an (one’s) abode
3) metaph. of the God the Holy Spirit indwelling believers

 

See where that says "Mansion"?

 

That's because this same Greek (μονή mone mon-ay’) is translated as "Mansion" in

 

John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 

What is a Mansion?

 

What is an Abode?

 

It is a dwelling place.

 

And where did God say he would DWELL?

 

2nd Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

 

Where did God say he would "DWELL"?

 

IN US.

 

A Temple is a Tabernacle is a Tent is a Mansion is an Abode and is a Dwelling place.

 

This is all about the Christ IN YOU.................

 

2nd Thessalonians 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

 

Do you see that IN HIS SAINTS?

 

Paul also wrote this plainly in another scripture:

 

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

 

Now, after reading all of this, do you now understand that John 14:1-3 has nothing to do with a physical and/or visible appearance of Christ?

 

John 14:19

 

Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also.

 

Do you also understand that through this verse, the world will never see Jesus again?

 

Keep studying; I know I will.